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Inhibition of liposome-induced complement activation by incorporated poly(ethylene glycol) lipids

TitleInhibition of liposome-induced complement activation by incorporated poly(ethylene glycol) lipids
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1998
AuthorsBradley, AJ, Devine, DV, Ansell, SM, Janzen, J, Brooks, DE
JournalArchives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Volume357
Pagination185-194
Date PublishedSep
Type of ArticleArticle
ISBN Number0003-9861
KeywordsC1q, CHOLESTEROL, CLEARANCE, complement activation, HEPATIC-UPTAKE, INVIVO, LARGE UNILAMELLAR VESICLES, LIPOSOMES, POLY(ETHYLENE GLYCOL), POLYETHYLENE-GLYCOL, PROLONGED CIRCULATION TIME, SERUM, SIZE, SURFACE-CHARGE
Abstract

Complement activation causes opsonization of foreign particles leading to particle elimination from the blood. Complement-mediated opsonization of charged and large liposomes presents a fundamental problem in their use to deliver therapeutic agents in vivo. To prolong the circulation half-lives of such liposomes, complement activation must be curtailed. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of poly(ethylene glycol)-lipids (PEG-lipids) to inhibit the in vitro activation of the classical pathway of complement in human serum by anionic liposomes. Incorporation of cholesterol-PEG(600) (CH-PEG(600)), cholesterol-PEG(1000) (CH-PEG(1000)), or phosphatidylethanolamine-PEG(2000) (PE-PEG(2000)) resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of Clq binding and complement activation. The dose of PEG-lipid at which complement activation was blocked was inversely related to the PEG chain length. Complement activation was strongly inhibited when 15 mole% of CH-PEG(600), 10 mole% CH-PEG(1000), or 5 mole% PE-PEG(2000), was incorporated into 100-nm anionic liposomes. PEG-lipid incorporation into larger liposomes (240 nm) was also successful in blocking C1q binding and complement activation. Radiolabeled cholesterol-PEG(similar to 1400) was prepared and used to determine both the percentage of CH-PEG incorporated into the liposomes and the percentage maintained in the liposomes in the presence of 50% human serum at 37 degrees C for up to 24 h. (C) 1998 Academic Press.

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